Suspension-bridge



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JQA. L. WADDELL & I. G". HBDRICK.

SUSPENSION BRIDGE. I

110.605,153. 1 [Patented June7,1898.

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" UNITED STATES PATENTV OFFICE.

'JOHN A. VVADDELL-AND IRA GRANT HEDRICK, OF KANSAS CIT-Y,

' MISSOURI. p

. SUSPENSION-BRIDGE.

j srEcrFIcATroN forming part o fnettm Patent No.'eo5,15s, dated :une 7, 189e. f Anuman n xea'oqatu 14.1397. semi No. 055.193. (No model.)

` To all whom it may concern.-

' which, the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements inA the construction of suspension-bridges which greatly reduce its costand at the'same time make the structure satisfactory in every re- ,the'accompanying drawings, in which- 'beam support.

spect. We attain these .objects by the arrangement of cablesand towers illustrated in Figure lis a side elevation of the entire structure.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the weight adjustment for the lower cables. Fig. 5 is a detail in elevation showing the rocking construction of the lower-cable angle. Fig. 6 is a plan section of the guide and the weight- Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the inward deliection of the suspendingcables c c to their immediate connection.

Like letters of refer'ence denote corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings.

a a .are the upper cables.

b b are the lower cables.

c c are the suspending-cables.

d d are vertical towers.

e e are the hinged bottoms of the towers d d.

g g are the smallrockers. ff are saddles secured thereto, to which the lower cables b b are fastened.

jj are axles upon which' the small rocker turns. v

lo turn.

la 7c are vertical channels in which the axles '1; are vertical guidesfor the channels 7c k. h h are I-beams bearing the weights w and supported upon the channels k k.' v

The upper cables a a carry the load to the tops oftherocking towers d. The lower ca- -bles b b, which are connected firmly t the upper cables a a by means of the Suspenders i c c, tend to hold the upper cables a a to a perfect curve at all times, and thus prevent any undue deliectiou of vthe said upper cables.

Y The suspenders c c are made tight and the load on the lower cables Fig. 2 illustrates a tower as seen 'from the bridge. E Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a singletower.

. the wind-pressure on the spans.

cablesa a and b b to anchorage; but they'must be firmly attached to the tops of towers d d by means of saddles. The object of the small rockers g g isto. allow the cables .b b to adjust themselves freely from span to span. The weights w w are just heavy enough to put the greatest safe b. The combined object of the weights w w, the I-beam h, the guides '11, the vertical channels k k, and the small rockers g g is to provide an automatic adjustment of the lower cables, so that, no matter what are the conditions of temperature, loading, or other circumstances which might aect the position of the upper cables a a or the `lower cables b b, the lower cables will always exert the same downward pull on the upper cables a a, the weights moving up or down, according to the conditions of loading or'temperature.

Withthe style of suspension-bridge dev scribed in this specification we dispense'with the stiiening-trfuss, which is a very costly item in the ordinary suspension-bridge, the

lower cables b b serving in its stead to prea a may be made continuous from anchorage vent any irregular deflection in the upper cables a a, which would result from the application of the live load on the bridge.' The rock.-

ing towers make it practicable to build an indefinite number of such spans, all connected in the same manner, as shown for thel two in Fig. 1, at a very much less cost than" rigid towers could be built. Both the upper cables a a and the lower cables b b are cradled in the horizontal .direction to provide for resisting All the suspending-cables c c are also inclined from the toward the center of the bridge.

Having described all that is necessary to a full understanding of our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is j .1. In a suspension-bridge, the combination 1of one or more towers, pivoted at their lower ends so as -to tilt lengthwise of the bridge,

with cables connecting the upper ends, and

cables connecting the lower ends of the towers, 5 and Suspenders holding the upper and lower cables in inverted curves as to each other, as shown. l

2. In a suspension-bridge, the combination of one or more towers, pivoted at their lower ends so as to tilt lengthwise of the bridge, cables conneetingthe upper ends and cables connecting the lower ends of the towers, and Suspenders holding the upper and lower cables in inverted curves as to each other, with weights at the lower connection of the cables, to take up the slack and distribute the load over the whole bridge, substantially as shown.

3. In a suspension-bridge of the construction substantially as set forth, the rockers g g, the weights w w, the beam h, and the zo lengthwise of the bridge, substantially as shown.

5. The combination of the lower cables b b, the rocker-bcnts d d, the small rockers r/ g,

and the automatic adjustment composed of 3o the weights w w, the beam h, and the guides u, in a'snspension-bridge as herein described.

J. A. L. WADDELL. TRA GRANT IIEDRICK.

Witnesses:

W. L. BRAYTON, II. voN UNWERTH. 

